The next-generation Myki gates have begun rolling out across Melbourne’s city stations over the past month but lack of announcement on how to use them have left many commuters scratching their heads.
The new streamlined design promises to make the gates function faster.
The slower processing of the Myki cards have often lead to long lines during peak hours and when major events were on such as the football at the MCG and Etihad stadium, where gates have to be opened to cope with swelling crowds.
NTT Data, the company responsible for the technology and software behind the Myki project, say the new gates are able to efficiently process more customers and should reduce peak hour congestions at many stations in the CBD.
Greg Purdy, CEO of NTT Data, Victorian Ticketing System says the upgrades to gates allow for a “more reliable system”, that is bringing us up to “2015 technology from the original project which is now 10 years old.”
Mr. Purdy’s advice to commuters feeling confused or uneasy about the gates is to “be confident and continue to walk through them without breaking stride.”
“The gates can actually cue up to 5 touches, so [commuters] don’t need to wait for the gate flaps to close before you walk forward. Once the green tick is on the screen you are safe to walk through the gates.”
While Mr. Purdy admits that “education is always beneficial”, he believes as patrons use the machines daily they will begin to “self-educate and adjust to the new speed of touching on and off.”
Some commuters are concerned the new gates may not be as seamless and safe as they have been described, with reports of gates shutting prematurely while walking through and machines not working.
Commuter Gordon Farrer was almost crushed when one of the upgraded gates at Flinders Street Station began to close on him as he walked through.
“Someone went through just before me and they stopped dead on the other side and the gate didn’t close and I started to go through and she moved away from the gate as I was moving through and the gate almost crushed me.”
The gates are already installed at Richmond, Mitcham, North Melbourne, Melbourne Central, Flagstaff, Parliament and Springvale with works expected be finished at Flinders St by the beginning of August, and Southern Cross to follow.
It is believed there has not been any funding organised for advertising on how to use the upgraded card readers by the Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
PTV did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
